Special thanks to Serene for allowing me to post this review!

As the title suggests, this film is set in the early days of Hong Kong.

Dave Wong plays a man brought up in a wealthy, respectable family. Being the type to chase his dreams, he leaves his family including the wife that they set him up with to become a police officer.

He meets and falls in love with a prostitute (Sheren). Hugo is Dave's mentor in the police force and someone that he came to respect very much. But Hugo is also in love with Sheren so he sets up her little brother to be involved in the drug trade. When Sheren's brother is caught, he faces the death penalty. But because of Dave's idealistic ways, he refuses to help Sheren's brother and this results in him losing her. Heartbroken, she falls into Hugo's arms.

In the early parts, both Dave and Sheren are unaware of Hugo's corruption and that he is the head honcho of the opium trade. However, no matter how bad a person he is, he is always true to Sheren and tries very hard to win her heart. This also makes him hate Dave very much.

Eventually Dave goes back home and realises that his wife has given birth to a son. After several years of chasing his dreams, he finally comes to understand the harsh realities after exposure to the corruption and betrayal. He finally decides to follow the pathway that his parents initially intended for him and learns to fall in love with his wife.

I don't want to give too much away, but in the last scene, Dave is a lonely old man, collecting drink cans in now modern-day Hong Kong. He passes an antique shop where he sees an old photo in the window with familiar faces from "Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong".

Undoubtedly one of the best series from this genre that I've seen that can initially be overlooked by the seemingly unattractive cast. And as usual, topped by an excellent themesong from Dave Wong.